Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1887-08-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, AUG. l, 1887.
Fort Myer, near Washington, an aban-
doned station of the signal corps is to
be used as us. cavalry post. Two
troops settling in the Old barracks left
vacant by the signal corps. An appro-
priation of $4,000 will allow new
slaves and new barracks to be built,
and leave sufficient sum to repair the
old buildings, The post is to be COM
manded by Maj. Carpenter of the 5th
cavalry with Capt. Lawton and Capt.
Anderson of 4th and 5th commanding
the two companies, Fort Myer is
named for the first chief of the signal
corps, the late Gen. Albert Myer, andis
beautifully situated on the Virginia
hills close to Arlington. 1t commands
a fine view of the Potomac river and
the city Of Washington. With these
natural advantages the fort will I'M
doubtedly become what Gen. Sheridan
desires to make it, the show cavalry
post of the army, as well rs Il school for
cavalry drill.
When the repairs on the aqueduct
bridge, now Ill progress, are completed,
the bridge will be opened free to the
public. Arlington and Fort Myer will
then be to people driving what Fort
Adams is to the people of Newport,
and if the officers at Fort Myer can
manage to have a band and give after
noon concerts, the resemblance will be
all the more striking and pleasant.
During the absence of the president
and Mrs. Cleveland at Oak View, the
yestibule of the white house is being
| frescoed, and renovated. rhe portrait
of Thomas jefferson which for many
| years adorned the space over the fire
| place in the vestibule, has been re-
moved to the East room and placed in
the panel to the right of the portrait of
Martha Washington. The frescoes in
the veStibule are after designs left by
Brumedi, the Italian artist, who de-
signed and executed the greater por-
tion of the frescoes on the walls of the
capitol Strangers visiting the capitol
Il few years ago, would be astonished
to see on the floor of the rotunda an
old man enter a sort OF basket chair
and be slowly hoisted to the top of the
dome, This was Brumedi, who, too old
to mount to the dome by the stairway
was daily lifted up, and there in his
lofty chair would continue his work of
painting the circle of the dome with
scenes from American history begin
ming with the landing of Columbus and
ending with pictures representing some
OF the latest developments in science
and invention. Brumedi did not live
to complete his work on the dome, but
anticipating his death, he made designs
in charcoal, to be used in finishing the
work begun by him. These designs
have been faithfully followed, and the
arch around the dome represents partly
his work and wholly his conception.
Appalled, at the apparent prospect Of
having to entertain delegation from
every state in the Union, with an in
vitation to invite him within it's bord
erS in the pocket of the chairman, tht
president has sent out mild but earn.
est protest against being swooped dowr
upon during this melting weather as
, suring the public that their invitation!
to have him visit them are just a
, | ,,,I,eb of faI al (,
: writing, and will be just as likely &C
cepted. In the mean while he prays t,
be left in peace with Mrs. Cleveland a
his country home, until October, whel
he starts out on his proposed tour. l
: the president does not actually ask t,
be left in peace, his words tacitly impl,
that he desires it.
At the navy department, Secretar,
Whitney, is to be found busy with hi
accumulated mail matter Mr.. Whit
ney is known as the "dude,' member o
the cabinet, but to see him at work il
J, shirt sleeves these hot days; leads on,
[ to believe that he is a man very mucl
maligned.
The signal officers report this July
as the hottest month recorded since tn,
organization of the weather bureau il
1871. The citizens Of Washington d,
!, not need the records of the signal offic,
to tell them that. The fact is self evi
dent. Then, we have all gotten warm
over something else besides the wealth
er, and that is, the increase of thu
water tax. The water works of the
district were built by the U. S. govern
ment, but they seem to be managed OF
rather, mismanaged by thecommission
ers of the district of Columbia. The
affairs of the water tax officer are ir
such labyrinth that no one can make
head nor tail of them, The fact re
mains that water takers have beer
taxed and re-taXed, and assessed an(
re-assessed, until their patience is ex
hausted, and now come the commits
sioners, the water department being il
arrears, and "malle Il law" to increas,
the rates to make good the deficiency
''The law is mandatory and admits O.
no discretion" say these great moguls
The laws of the Medes and Persian.
were not more fixed than that.
/, Chief Justice Grey who is the onl,
, bachelor on the Supreme bench, i:
building himself handsome house OF
the corner OF 10Th and | streets. Tn,
, house is to be a model one having al
the rooms necessary to make bachelo
comfortable. on one floor, The secont
floor is devoted to extra bedrooms, an,
with the view probably to the possible
contingency OF the bachelor justice be
! coming Il benedict.